Beginning this Friday, New York-grown cannabis and related goods will be available for purchase in Jamestown.
The former Patient’s Pharmacy at 320 N. Main St. is being converted into an outlet that will offer a variety of legally available products through the end of the year.
A local group is collaborating with Herbal IQ, a licensed cannabis dispensary out of Buffalo, for a state-sponsored Cannabis Growers Showcase, an initiative that permits cannabis growers and processors to offer locally-grown cannabis products to consumers.
A similar showcase was held this past September in Findley Lake while the hamlet held its annual Harvest Festival.
Thomas Spanos, a cannabis attorney and Jamestown native, is part of the group organizing the city’s showcase that was approved by the state Office of Cannabis Management. He said the North Main Street location will be the first in Jamestown to offer cannabis and processed cannabis products for legal purchase.
Its opening is scheduled for Friday at 4:20 p.m. – a nod to the number 420 and synonymous with smoking marijuana.
“They call them ‘Growers Showcases’ for a very good reason,” Spanos told The Post-Journal this week. “They wanted to build opportunities for the farmers who really got into motion and got their crops ready for market, an opportunity to sell those crops.”
He added, “These types of events allow growers and processors to bring their products directly to the public. They’re able to market them directly to the public, and then any sales that are actually going to happen, happen through the dispensary.”
In New York state, adults age 21 and older can possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis flower or bud, or up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis such as oils and vapes. It is not legal for anyone younger than 21 to have, use or share cannabis.
The Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act was signed into law on March 31, 2021.
Spanos said different strains of cannabis flowers will be available for purchase in Jamestown, along with marijuana-related products such as gummies and “weed water,” which he said was popular in Findley Lake.
“The city of Jamestown is proud to welcome the Cannabis Growers Showcase to our community and lead the way in welcoming this exciting new industry to the region,” Mayor Eddie Sundquist said. “As one of the first cities in the state to actively attract growing operations, we continue to be on the cutting edge of this industry. The Growers Showcase will highlight the tireless efforts of our local growers at market, and through community-wide partnership in GROW Jamestown, we will continue celebrating civic engagement and the productive reuse of spaces to bring new business to our city.”
All cannabis sold in Jamestown will have originated in New York. Spanos said the dispensary will feature product by one Chautauqua County grower while product from another local grower is expected to be added later.
“It’s kind of a win for everybody involved,” he said. “It’s a win for the retailer — they get another place that they can sell products through and they get their margin. It’s a great opportunity for the location owners as well as the staff. … And it’s also a win for the growers and the processors who have another chance to get their products out there, but also the chance to see people in person and tell them about the products.”
During the Findley Lake showcase in September, which Spanos had a hand in as well, sales for cannabis and related products averaged about $10,000 a day. While those numbers were in line with other showcases held in the state, Spanos expects the Jamestown dispensary to do even better because it will be open for nearly two months.
“We’re hoping that this is going to be a real boon for building a reputation of Jamestown as a cannabis-friendly location,” he said.
After its grand opening this Friday and Saturday, the Jamestown location will be open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., through Dec. 31.
An application also has been submitted for the North Main Street site to become a full-time cannabis dispensary.
H/T: www.post-journal.com
